[WINTERFRONT]

But... no one lives in Tampa, literally

Leaving the joke aside, there has to be a really good reason for them to have decided to build a Tampa-Orlando link ( a risky yet clever business strategy?), otherwise it's pointless not to have chosen a Miami-Orlando alternative.

The disgrace is not coming from these news; deciding to prioritize a Tampa corridor over a 305 one was a disgraceful idea from the beginning.

They might as well build a Littler Rock- San Antonio corridor if they want to waste money... oh wait, they actually have that planned!!

[WINTERFRONT]

State higways and seaport improvements!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????

Wtf!!!!!!!!??

[BlueBlueBlue]

High-speed rail DOESN'T work in Florida. High-speed rail does not equal advancement in the transportation sector because NO ONE will use it.

The U.S. is NOT like Europe, the geography and politics are not the same. High-speed rail would not work here.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by WINTERFRONT

But... no one lives in Tampa, literally

Leaving the joke aside, there has to be a really good reason for them to have decided to build a Tampa-Orlando link ( a risky yet clever business strategy?), otherwise it's pointless not to have chosen a Miami-Orlando alternative.

The disgrace is not coming from these news; deciding to prioritize a Tampa corridor over a 305 one was a disgraceful idea from the beginning.

They might as well build a Littler Rock- San Antonio corridor if they want to waste money... oh wait, they actually have that planned!!

The Tampa-Orlando segment was the first segment. It would have then been connected through Orlando to South Florida. The reason why Tampa-Orlando would have been first is because back when Florida was going to have high speed rail (voted on by the people), that segment had all the permitting, impact and enviro studies already completed before it was shelved.

This is another lost opportunity. How do we improve the highway system in South Florida? We are maxed out on widening I-95 through Palm Beach County, and unless we pave over the Everglades, what other solutions are there?

I guess the United States better start getting used to being the "new third world" in the future while the rising economies invest in capital improvements and transportation infrastructure with an eye on the future.

[WINTERFRONT]

Originally Posted by BlueBlueBlue

High-speed rail DOESN'T work in Florida. High-speed rail does not equal advancement in the transportation sector because NO ONE will use it.

The U.S. is NOT like Europe, the geography and politics are not the same. High-speed rail would not work here.

oK ok understood... pls don't hurt me

[CLTKing]

Originally Posted by BlueBlueBlue

It would have been a HUGE waste of money cause no one would have used it. High-speed rail doesn't work in the United States except maybe between a few cities in the Northeast. I find it funny how Obama is pushing high-speed rail when even common folk like me know it will be a useless waste.

Instead of wanting to spend some money on some useless high-speed rail system, the money should be invested in NASA and education. NASA in particular to further our space exploration technologies and hopefully inspire interest in the math and science fields.

So investing in NASA is a priority because it would further our space exploration.....but having high speed rail ON EARTH is not important...I think the average Joe would use more often a train right here on our own planet or country than dreaming about out of space....The reason why HSR "does not work" in the USA is because we don't access to it!! But look at the NE corridor, extremely successful. It is a shame that China has been able to build one of the most extensive HSR systems on an area mass as large as the USA and we still are doubting its benefits.....we keep basking in our old glory....but the future is passing us by....

[CLTKing]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

When we turn down the entire bill like that, yes, you're right, we do.

Tampa to Orlando is an important step. Is Miami more important? Yes, IMO. However, considering the entire thing was practically paid for already, it makes no sense to turn it down.

The money WILL be spent regardless of whether FL takes it or not. Turning our nose up to it just makes us look like a bunch of idiots.

Thankfully people are looking at ways to circumvent the governor on this and I hope they will be successful; however, this is still a disgrace to the state.

Only FL would elect Scott, a known convict, to office.

I totally agree. The project was almost all paid off. It is dumb to reject it when this might be the only chance FL will ever get to have HSR....Some how teabagers are all for stopping progress....

[CLTKing]

Originally Posted by WINTERFRONT

But... no one lives in Tampa, literally

Leaving the joke aside, there has to be a really good reason for them to have decided to build a Tampa-Orlando link ( a risky yet clever business strategy?), otherwise it's pointless not to have chosen a Miami-Orlando alternative.

The disgrace is not coming from these news; deciding to prioritize a Tampa corridor over a 305 one was a disgraceful idea from the beginning.

They might as well build a Littler Rock- San Antonio corridor if they want to waste money... oh wait, they actually have that planned!!

You do know that the distance from Orlando to Tampa is only 100 miles, but Orlando to Miami is 225 miles right? The cost of building MIA-Orlando would've been twice as much...and with the lack of funds we are facing, it would've been an impossible task to achieve. Let's not forget that it was FL voters that in 2004 repealed the 2000 amendment, removing the constitutional mandate for the project. With that vote, we killed the MIA-Orlando option for ever. Way to go FL...

[cixcell]

cape canaveral is a museum.

as the nation descends into old age (a huge percentage of the american workforce is going to retire in the next 5 yrs). we're going to become more and more of a museum like old europe.

people who have specialized knowledge on historical space program stuff, the culture of the american indians/ indigenous peoples of north america, native plants, etc. are going to be able to find specialized jobs because these are what foreigners read books and watch tv shows about. i just saw someone from southeast asia tag me on a facebook photo fascinated with a north american weed he found growing as an invasive in the hills of malaysia. ive watched BBC documentaries about the 'american serengeti' of the plains states with it's bison and pronghorn herds and the fascination by people both in south america and europe with the american indians and which they consider to be an ancient wise culture and the pitcher plants of the florida panhandle and other southeast states that draws botanists from europe and around the world just as much as Borneo does. I can see alot of future growth in knowing about all these native things we take for granted because someday their currency may be worth more than ours -- especially if we keep running up the debt and so we need to foster and grow things that are particularly north american.

[FloridaKash]

It is a shame that this bill was shot down. I would have used this train twice last weekend and again, twice this upcoming weekend. But nope, instead I get to fight the traffic and the idiots who can't drive. Joy...

Obviously Highspeed rail is the way to go. China is spending a huge amount of money and resources building one the world's best highspeed rail systems.